SCB Child Theft: DNA test of infants, couples soon

Cuttack: In a latest development in the child theft incident at SCB Medical College and Hospital, the Commissionerate today asked the hospital authorities to conduct DNA paternity test of the two newborns along with two couples.

Local Mangalabag police today moved the court for granting necessary permission for conduct of the DNA test of the two newborns, who were earlier stolen by a woman from SCB on March 8 and January 5.

A senior police official said that that once the DNA tests are conducted, the babies would be handed over to their respective biological parents.

Earlier, local Mangalabag police had arrested Manasi Samal of Nima Sahi for the twin child theft incidents along with three others who had purchased the newborns from her on March 12.

The accused Manasi impersonating herself as an ASHA worker had stolen a day-old male child of Puspa Patra on the pretext of taking the baby to vaccination centre located near the department for immunization on March 8.

Manasi had allegedly sold the newborn to Sumati Samal of Baranga for nearly Rs 10,500.

According to police, the baby was subsequently recovered following a detail investigation basing on the CCTV footage of the hospital. A sketch of the woman was also released by Commissionerate police seeking information from general public.